Dedicated vehicles for gritting purposes are becoming a luxury for councils under pressure to cut costs. This is one reason why local authorities are exploring more cost-effective solutions as they face up to another uncertain winter. One strategy to keep the wheels continually moving throughout the seasons is to use demountable or interchangeable gritters. Scotland's Highland Council discovered the benefits of this after investing in a Mercedes-Benz Unimog, which can be fitted with different equipment depending on the weather it encounters. An all-terrain model supplied by South Cave Tractors in East Yorkshire was funded by a partnership between the council and ski resort operator CML, with finance from the Scottish government. James MacDonald, Highland Council's transport and logistics manager, says: "We had been relying on a dedicated snow-blowing vehicle until it reached the end of its life. The Unimog is a far more cost-effective solution, though, because it can be used in a variety of roles all year round."
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